Who Is John Hickenlooper? Meet The Latest 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate

John Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado, is the latest Democratic candidate to throw their hat into the 2020 presidential race. On Monday, March 4, Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for the presidency in a video titled “Standing Tall.”

Hickenlooper has decades of executive experience and has had a long rise to the top when he became the mayor of Denver before Governor of Colorado, which included a stint as the owner of a brew pub.

His rise from humble begins to politics is outlined in the campaign video.

“I’m running for president because we’re facing a crisis that threatens everything we stand for,” Hickenlooper said in the video, as transcribed by CNN.com. “As a skinny kid with coke bottle glasses and a funny last name, I’ve stood up to my fair share of bullies.

“I’m running for president because we need dreamers in Washington but we also need to get things done. I’ve proven again and again I can bring people together to produce the progressive change Washington has failed to deliver.”

There are currently 14 Democratic candidates.

Hickenlooper, however, sets himself apart as a moderate candidate in a field that is full of progressives like Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Cory Booker.

Hickenlooper will begin his path on the campaign trail with a trip to Iowa on March 8 and 9, before heading to Austin, Texas.

Jon Hickenlooper was born February 7, 1952, in Narberth, Pennsylvania. He served as the Mayor of Denver from July 21, 2003, to January 11, 2011, and the Governor of Colorado from January 11, 2011, to January 8, 2019.

The presidential candidate graduated from Wesleyan University and began his career as a geologist. After his career as a geologist, Hickenlooper began a career in business and ultimately began his foray into politics. He now hopes to take the next step as one of the dark horses in the crowded 2020 Democratic field.